Amen Thompson's near triple-double lifts Rockets over Mavericks in thrilling finish

HOUSTON (AP) — Amen Thompson had 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 111-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.

An alley-oop dunk by Thompson put Houston up four with under two minutes left before the Mavericks scored the next four points, with baskets from rookie Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall, to tie it about a minute later.

Alperen Sengun’s layup put Houston on top with 28.6 seconds left before Flagg missed a shot in the lane on the other end. The Rockets grabbed the rebound and a dunk by Tari Eason made it 111-107 with 14.4 seconds remaining.

A 3-point attempt by Flagg bounced off the rim after that to end it.

Flagg led the Mavericks with 34 points and 12 rebounds a game after the 19-year-old set the NBA record for points by a teenager with 49 in a loss to Charlotte on Thursday night. Saturday was the fifth game this season with at least 30 points for the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.

Jabari Smith Jr. added 19 points for the Rockets and Sengun had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

A 7-2 run by Houston extended the lead to 11 with about seven minutes to go before Klay Thompson made consecutive 3-pointers to power a 6-3 run by Dallas that cut the lead to 99-91 midway through the quarter.

The Mavericks trailed by 10 before Flagg scored all their points in a 6-2 run that got them within 103-97 with 3 1/2 minutes remaining. Kevin Durant made a jump shot for the Rockets after that, but Dallas scored the next six points to cut the lead to 105-103 with two minutes left.

The Rockets were up by 13 after a 3-pointer by Josh Okogie with about 5 1/2 minutes in the third quarter before the Mavericks used a 13-5 run to cut the lead to 87-82 entering the fourth quarter.

Mavericks: Host Boston on Tuesday night.

Rockets: At Indiana on Monday night.

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) looks to shoot as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, left, drives to the basket as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. reacts after making a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, right, shoots as Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, center, shoots as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 33 points, Julius Randle added 27 points and seven assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves won their fourth straight, 131-114 over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

Minnesota's winning streak was punctuated by a wire-to-wire victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. All four wins have been by double-digits.

Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels had 20 points apiece for the Timberwolves, Reid adding nine rebounds. Rudy Gobert grabbed 16 boards and added a pair of blocks.

Ty Jerome, playing in his first game of the season after recovering from a right calf strain, led Memphis with 20 points and six assists but could not prevent the Grizzlies from losing their sixth straight.

GG Jackson added 19 points and Jaylen Wells had 15.

Memphis has struggled of late, its losing streak coming amid injuries and reports the team is willing to trade star guard Ja Morant before Thursday's deadline. Morant was one of seven Memphis rotation players who sat out against the Timberwolves. Memphis did get the return of Jerome, signed as a free agent last summer.

Memphis had long-range shooting problems in the first half, making only one of its first 18 attempts from outside the 3-point arc. In the third quarter, Minnesota extended a 58-49 halftime lead to 92-73, making 12 of its first 16 shots in the quarter. The Timberwolves lead entering the fourth was 97-79.

Minnesota kept the lead at double-digits and coasted home after extending the advantage to 22 points with 3:46 remaining.

The teams will face each other Monday night in Memphis.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) handles the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23), Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II, center, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) vie for the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II (45)in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23), guard Cam Spencer, second from right, and forward GG Jackson II, fourth from right, as Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) moves for position in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)